Drafting system unit having a weighting arm and a weighting arm for a drafting system unit

ABSTRACT

Drafting system unit having a weighting arm and to a weighting arm for a drafting system unit for drafting a fiber band at a workstation of a textile machine, said weighting arm having a support arm and a top roller body, which is detachably mounted on a retaining device connected to the support arm. In order to provide a drafting system having a weighting arm and to provide a weighting arm for a drafting system unit for drafting a fiber band at a workstation of a textile machine, which drafting system and weighting arm can, in a user-friendly manner, be inspected, repaired and/or adapted to the fiber band material to be drafted and allow the top roller bodies to be easily replaced, there is provision for the top roller body to have an actuation section, which protrudes beyond the support arm in longitudinal axis direction of the top roller body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from German National Patent Application No. DE 10 2019 115 905.9, filed Jun. 12, 2019, entitled “Streckwerkeinheit mit einem Belastungstrager sowie Belastungsträger für eine Streckwerkeinheit”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a weighting arm for a drafting system unit for drafting a fiber band at a workstation of a textile machine, the weighting arm having: a support arm, and a top roller body which is rotatably and detachably mounted on a retaining device connected to the support arm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drafting systems of various designs for textile machines are known from the prior art. They are used to draft or draw a fiber band, in which case the cross-section of the fiber band is reduced. During the draft, the fibers must be slid relative to each other as evenly as possible in order to achieve a fiber band that is as even as possible.

In order to draft the fiber band, the drafting systems generally have a plurality of roller pairs arranged one after the other, which pairs of rollers, arranged lying on each other, clamp the fiber band running between them. A roller pair usually consists of a driven bottom roller and an upper pressure roller, which lies on the bottom roller and is retained on a weighting arm. A draft of the fiber band is achieved in that the circumferential speed increases from roller pair to roller pair in the transporting direction of the fiber band defined by the direction of rotation of the roller pairs.

In a drafting system of the type mentioned above, the weighting arm is used to press the upper pressure roller, top roller or top roller body arranged on the weighting arm against the associated bottom roller with a predefined pressure so that the top roller body rests, in the operating position, under pressure on the corresponding bottom roller.

Known textile machines have a separate drafting system with several roller pairs arranged in rows at each workstation for each fiber band to be drafted, with which roller pairs a weighting arm is associated. For system reasons, the rollers of the drafting system are subject to wear, which makes it necessary to regularly replace the rollers. The top roller bodies arranged on the weighting arm are difficult to access in known drafting systems, which makes it rather difficult to replace the top roller bodies and can lead to long downtime of the textile machine in question.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Proceeding from here, the problem addressed by the present invention is that of providing a drafting system unit having a weighting arm and providing a weighting arm for a drafting system unit for drafting a fiber band at a workstation of a textile machine, which drafting system unit and weighting arm can, in a user-friendly manner, be inspected, repaired and/or adapted to the fiber band material to be drafted and in particular allow the top roller bodies to be easily replaced.

A drafting system unit for a textile machine according to the present invention is, in particular, an assembly of a drafting system of a textile machine, in which case the drafting system unit can more preferably also be configured as a complete drafting system depending on its design.

The present invention solves the problem by means of a weighting arm for a drafting system unit for drafting a fiber band at a workstation of a textile machine, comprising a support arm, and a top roller body, which is detachably mounted on a retaining device connected to the support arm, characterized in that the top roller body has an actuation section, which protrudes beyond the support arm in a longitudinal axis direction of the top roller body.

The present invention solves the problem by means of a drafting system unit for a textile machine, comprising a weighting arm having at least one top roller body, the weighting arm is for the drafting system unit for drafting a fiber band at a workstation of a textile machine, comprising a support arm, and a top roller body, which is detachably mounted on a retaining device connected to the support arm, characterized in that the top roller body has an actuation section, which protrudes beyond the support arm in a longitudinal axis direction of the top roller body.

Advantageous further developments of the present invention are stated herein.

The textile machine is preferably a spinning machine that drafts a fiber band, such as a ring spinning machine, a roving frame, an air spinning machine or the like.

The weighting arm according to the present invention is characterized in that the top roller body has an actuation section, which protrudes beyond the weighting arm in the longitudinal axis direction of the top roller body. The top roller body is detachably mounted on a retaining device of the support arm and extends beyond the support arm in the longitudinal axis direction of the top roller body. The area protruding beyond the support arm has an actuation section, which allows the top roller body to be grasped in a simple and comfortable way in order to move the top roller body out of the retaining device or to arrange the top roller body on the retaining device again. In particular, the top roller body can be mounted on the support arm in such a way that the top roller body is mounted for rotation relative to the support arm in order to rotatably carry along a fiber band contact layer arranged on the top roller body. Alternatively, the top roller body can be rotationally fixed on the support arm, in which case the fiber band contact layer arranged on the top roller body is rotatable relative to the top roller body. Such an arrangement for relative rotation can be implemented, for example, in accordance with the principle of a rotatable outer ring of a ball bearing.

With respect to the installed position of the drafting system unit on the textile machine, the design according to the present invention has the result that the actuation section laterally protrudes beyond the edge of the support arm, where the actuation section is easily accessible to an operator so that the top roller body can be quickly replaced.

The retaining device on the support arm is used to hold the accordingly rotatable or rotationally fixed top roller body and is designed in such a way that the top roller body can be removed from the retaining device and can be reinstalled in the retaining device.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, there is provision for the retaining device to have two retainers, which are arranged at a distance from one another on the support arm. According to this advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the retaining device has two retainers designed to support the top roller body, which retainers ensure that the top roller body is reliably arranged because of the bearings of the retainers, which bearings preferably engage in the end area of the top roller body. The retainers can be designed, for example, in such a way that the top roller body protrudes beyond the support arm only at one of the retainers, while the other retainer provides an arrangement of the top roller body flush with or set back from the support arm.

However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, there is provision for the top roller body to have, at both ends, actuation sections protruding beyond the support arm in the longitudinal axis direction of the top roller body. The embodiment of the top roller body with two actuation sections, which are arranged at ends of the top roller body, allows easy access to the top roller body in a particularly comfortable way, in which case the top roller body can be removed from and installed on the retaining device particularly quickly and easily by an operator.

The actuation sections can in principle be designed as a simple extension of the top roller body that can be easily grasped by an operator. The actuation section can particularly advantageously have a surface profile, which further increases the grip and thus facilitates the options for simple installation and removal by the operator.

The actuation section according to the present invention allows the top roller bodies to be inspected, replaced and/or adjusted by the responsible operator without tools. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the actuation section is designed to receive an actuating tool. According to this embodiment of the present invention, there is provision for the actuation section to be designed to receive a tool provided for replacing and installing the top roller body. This can be, for example, detent marks or grooves distributed over the circumference, which allow a connection to a suitable tool in a rotationally fixed arrangement, by means of which tool the top roller body can then be particularly easily installed and removed if necessary. The option of using a tool is characterized in that higher forces can be applied to the top roller bodies by means of the tool and the top roller bodies can be particularly reliably adjusted.

In principle, the longitudinal extent of the top roller body beyond the support arm is freely selectable and can be freely selected in accordance with the specified design conditions. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment, there is provision for the actuation section to protrude beyond the support arm in the longitudinal axis direction of the top roller body by up to 15 mm, preferably by up to 10 mm, particularly preferably by up to 5 mm. A corresponding embodiment of the present invention ensures the production of economical top roller bodies having a sufficiently large actuation section, which actuation section allows the top roller body to be easily and quickly removed and reinstalled if necessary.

In principle, the design of the retaining device, more particularly of the preferably provided retainers, in such a way that the retaining device or the retainers allow the top roller body to be detachably arranged can be freely selected. For example, locking elements which, in the locked position, secure the top roller body in its operating position and which must be unlocked before the top roller body is removed can be provided here.

However, according to an advantageous further development of the present invention, there is provision for the retaining device to be designed, more particularly for the retainers to be designed, in such a way that they apply a spring force acting radially on the top roller body in order to positionally secure the top roller body. According to this embodiment of the present invention, there is provision for the top roller bodies to be secured in their operating position on the retaining device or the retainers because of a spring preload. In order to remove the top roller body, the top roller body must be moved against the spring force, and the top roller body can be easily removed from the retaining device after the spring force has been overcome.

The use of a such spring force clamping allows the top roller body to be particularly easily and quickly removed and at the same time ensures reliable positional securing during the operation of the support arm. The design of the spring force clamping can be freely selected. In addition to the use of spring-loaded pressing bodies, there is also the option, for example, of providing the retainers with a partial mount extending around the top roller body in the operating position in an angle range of more than 180°, in which case the free legs of the mount provide the possibility of elastic adjustment in order to remove and install the top roller body, and in which case the top roller body can be “clipped” into the retainer.

The drafting system according to the present invention for a textile machine, comprising a drafting system unit having a weighting arm with at least one top roller body, is characterized in that the weighting arm is designed in accordance with one or more features described herein. Such a drafting system is characterized in that the top roller body can be easily replaced if necessary. In particular, the support arm is pivotably mounted in a known way, which allows the weighting arm to pivot from an operating position into a maintenance position, in which the top roller bodies can be grasped in a particularly easy way by means of the one or more actuation sections and can be replaced.

It is particularly advantageously provided that the drafting system unit has a frame structure, by means of which the drafting system unit can be detachably arranged on a supporting frame of the textile machine, more particularly in a modular way. A modularly exchangeable drafting system unit can thus be provided.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment example of the present invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of two adjacently arranged drafting systems on a textile machine and

FIG. 2 shows a magnified illustration of a lateral area of a weighting arm of the drafting systems of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the embodiments of the present invention is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. The following description is provided herein solely by way of example for purposes of providing an enabling disclosure of the invention, but does not limit the scope or substance of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of two drafting system units 1, which are arranged adjacent to one another on a textile machine, which is not shown here. The drafting system units 1 have, in particular, a frame structure 10, by means of which the drafting system units 1 according to this preferred embodiment example can be modularly detachably positioned on a supporting frame of the textile machine, which supporting frame, according to this preferred embodiment example, comprises a supporting tube 9. The drafting system unit 1 has two weighting arms 7, which are arranged at a distance from one another and each have a support arm 2 for supporting top roller bodies 5. The weighting arm 7 can be pivoted relative to the frame structure 10, and this is facilitated for an operator by the grasping of a gripping element 8 connecting the weighting arms 7.

According to this preferred embodiment example, the weighting arms 7 are in particular identical and have, in a fiber band running direction, three retaining devices 3 arranged one after the other. Each of the retaining devices 3 is formed by a retainer 4 arranged on the support arm 2 in question. Two retainers 4, arranged along the fiber band running direction at the same arrangement height and each associated with a support arm 2, are spaced apart from one another transversely to the fiber band running direction and are designed to jointly, more particularly rotatably, and detachably hold a top roller body 5. The top roller body 5 is positionally secured on the two spaced retainers 4 by means of a spring clamping force, which, in the case of removal of the top roller body 5, must be overcome by an operator in order to be able to move the top roller body 5 out of a mounting opening 11 of the retainers 4.

According to this preferred embodiment example, for this purpose the top roller bodies 5 have, at both ends, actuation sections 6 protruding laterally beyond the edges of the adjacent support arms 2 facing away from one another, which actuation sections can be easily grasped by an operator, in which case the top roller body 5 can be easily removed from and repositioned on the retainers 4.

According to an alternative embodiment example not shown here, the drafting system unit has only one weighting arm with one support arm, which comprises at least one retaining device for a top roller body. The retaining device can be formed by two retainers, which are spaced apart from one another transversely to the fiber band running direction and function as described above, the two retainers 4 spaced apart from one another being arranged on only one support arm. The top roller body can have, at both ends, actuation sections protruding laterally beyond the edges of the support arm facing away from one another, by means of which actuation sections the top roller body can be installed on or removed from the retainers.

According to an additional preferred embodiment example, the drafting system unit can have only one weighting arm having two support arms, which each comprise at least one retaining device in an equivalent manner as described above.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 Drafting system unit

2 Support arm

3 Retaining device

4 Retainer

5 Top roller body

6 Actuation section

7 Weighting arm

8 Gripping element

9 Supporting tube

10 Frame structure

11 Mounting opening

It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A weighting arm for a drafting system unit for drafting a fiber band at a workstation of a textile machine, comprising a support arm, and a top roller body, which is detachably mounted on a retaining device connected to the support arm, characterized in that the top roller body has an actuation section, which protrudes beyond the support arm in a longitudinal axis direction of the top roller body.
 2. The weighting arm according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining device has two retainers arranged at a distance from one another on the support arm.
 3. The weighting arm according to claim 1, characterized in that the top roller body has, at both ends, actuation sections, which protrude beyond the support arm in the longitudinal axis direction of the top roller body.
 4. The weighting arm according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuation section is designed to receive an actuating tool.
 5. The weighting arm according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuation section has a surface profile.
 6. The weighting arm according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuation section protrudes beyond the support arm in the longitudinal axis direction of the top roller body by up to 15 mm.
 7. The weighting arm according to claim 6, characterized in that the actuation section protrudes beyond the support arm in the longitudinal axis direction of the top roller body by up to 10 mm.
 8. The weighting arm according to claim 7, characterized in that the actuation section protrudes beyond the support arm in the longitudinal axis direction of the top roller body by up to 5 mm.
 9. The weighting arm according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining device is designed to apply a spring force acting radially on the top roller body in order to rotatably positionally secure the top roller body.
 10. The weighting arm according to claim 1, characterized in that the retainers of the retaining device are designed in such a way that the retainers apply a spring force acting radially on the top roller body in order to rotatably positionally secure the top roller body.
 11. A drafting system unit for a textile machine, comprising a weighting arm having at least one top roller body, the weighting arm is for the drafting system unit for drafting a fiber band at a workstation of a textile machine, comprising a support arm, and a top roller body, which is detachably mounted on a retaining device connected to the support arm, characterized in that the top roller body has an actuation section, which protrudes beyond the support arm in a longitudinal axis direction of the top roller body.
 12. The drafting system unit according to claim 11, characterized in that the drafting system unit has a frame structure, by which the drafting system unit is detachably arranged on a supporting frame of the textile machine,
 13. The drafting system unit according to claim 12, characterized in that the drafting system unit is detachably arranged on a supporting frame of the textile machine in a modular way.
 14. The drafting system unit according to claim 11, characterized in that two weighting arms are provided, which are connected to one another by a gripping part for joint operation by an operator. 